Fred Iger
Encyclopedia
Frederick H. Iger was an American
comic book
publisher, associated for many years with the media figure Harry Donenfeld
. (Iger's first marriage was to Donenfeld's daughter, and his second marriage was to Donenfeld's ex-daughter-in-law.) Iger was an owner of American Comics Group
from 1943 to 1967, and co-owner of National Periodical Publications (otherwise known as DC Comics
) from 1948–1961.
Iger is not related to cartoonist Jerry Iger
.
, working with Robert Maxwell
from c. 1939 to 1941, including on The Adventures of Superman
radio show.
(ACG) in 1943, and in 1947 Iger bought in (thanks to his father-in-law Donenfeld). At ACG during this period Iger edited, ordered paper, negotiated with printers, and did the taxes. His title was Business Manager and, later, Publisher.
In 1955, Iger bought out Sangor's share from his widow Francis (Sangor having died of a heart attack in c. 1953), becoming sole owner of ACG for the rest of the company history.
. His second marriage was to a woman named Arlene, the ex-wife of Harry's son Irwin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
publisher, associated for many years with the media figure Harry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld was an American publisher who is known primarily for being the owner of National Allied Publications, which distributed Detective Comics and Action Comics, the originator publications for the superhero characters Batman and Superman...
. (Iger's first marriage was to Donenfeld's daughter, and his second marriage was to Donenfeld's ex-daughter-in-law.) Iger was an owner of American Comics Group
American Comics Group
American Comics Group was a New York City-based comic book publisher which operated during the Golden and Silver Age of comic books. ACG published one of the first horror comics titles, Adventures into the Unknown. Another of ACG's claims to fame was the character of Herbie Popnecker, who starred...
from 1943 to 1967, and co-owner of National Periodical Publications (otherwise known as DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
) from 1948–1961.
Iger is not related to cartoonist Jerry Iger
Jerry Iger
Samuel Maxwell "Jerry" Iger was an American cartoonist. With business partner Will Eisner he co-founder of Eisner & Iger, a comic book packager that produced comics on demand for new publishers during the late-1930s and 1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic...
.
Early career
Iger started out as a radio producerRadio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
, working with Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell (producer)
Robert Maxwell Joffe was an American radio and television producer, screenwriter, and entertainment executive...
from c. 1939 to 1941, including on The Adventures of Superman
The Adventures of Superman (radio)
The Adventures of Superman was a long running radio serial that originally aired from 1940 to 1951, adapted from the DC Comics character. ....
radio show.
Sangor Studio and American Comics Group
In 1940 Iger joined Benjamin W. Sangor's "Sangor Shop" until 1943. (Harry Donenfeld was co-owner of the studio during this period as well, up until the early 1960s, though he was severely incapacitated and out of the business after an accident in 1962). Sangor started American Comics GroupAmerican Comics Group
American Comics Group was a New York City-based comic book publisher which operated during the Golden and Silver Age of comic books. ACG published one of the first horror comics titles, Adventures into the Unknown. Another of ACG's claims to fame was the character of Herbie Popnecker, who starred...
(ACG) in 1943, and in 1947 Iger bought in (thanks to his father-in-law Donenfeld). At ACG during this period Iger edited, ordered paper, negotiated with printers, and did the taxes. His title was Business Manager and, later, Publisher.
In 1955, Iger bought out Sangor's share from his widow Francis (Sangor having died of a heart attack in c. 1953), becoming sole owner of ACG for the rest of the company history.
DC Comics
Iger's father-in-law Donenfeld staked Iger again in 1948, when Iger was made a co-owner of National Periodical Publications, a major part of Donenfeld's comic book empire. Iger's association with DC ended in 1961, when the company went public.Later career
In the mid-1990s, Iger owned the commercial photo board company Film Reproductions, from 1993 to 1997.Personal life
Iger was married twice, the first time from 1943 to c. 1962 to Sonia "Peachy" Donenfeld, daughter of Harry DonenfeldHarry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld was an American publisher who is known primarily for being the owner of National Allied Publications, which distributed Detective Comics and Action Comics, the originator publications for the superhero characters Batman and Superman...
. His second marriage was to a woman named Arlene, the ex-wife of Harry's son Irwin
Irwin Donenfeld
Irwin Donenfeld was an American comic book publishing executive for DC Comics. Donenfeld co-owned the firm from 1948 to 1967, holding the positions of Editorial Director and Executive Vice President...
.
External links
- "DC's 'Other' Comics: American Comics Group," DCComicsArtists.com
- "The History of Comic Books: The Newsstand Period," TheComicBooks.com